Hornersville man pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter

STODDARD COUNTY, Mo. -- A Hornersville, Mo., man pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in a Stoddard County courtroom earlier this month and will appear for sentencing in July in Dunklin County.

Richard Forrister, 21, appeared May 5 before Judge Stephen Sharp for a review of his February 2009 case, in which he was charged with the death of Adam Cockerham, 20, also of Hornersville. Forrister was originally charged with second-degree murder but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge. Sentencing will be at 10:30 a.m. July 7.

According to a probable-cause statement by Sgt. Dennis Rainey of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Forrister admitted in an interview with police to stabbing Cockerham, who later died as a result of the injury.

During a party at Cockerham's home, Cockerham and Forrister had a confrontation in which Forrister said Cockerham came at him and pushed him against a tree, according to the statement. Forrister said he then retrieved a folding knife from his pocket and unfolded it. At that point, Forrister said, Cockerham charged at him and that he attempted to grab Cockerham's shoulders. When that happened, he stabbed Cockerham in the neck with the knife. Cockerham immediately fell to the ground while Forrister fled on foot.

Cockerham died of his injuries at a hospital.